Power operator for doors and the like



1966 L. G. BOBROWSKI arm. 3,231,259

POWER OPERATOR FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS LOUIS GBOBROWSKI JOHN F. MASLOW raw/M WWW/ 1 ATTORNEYS a? 25, 1966 L. G. BOBROWSKI e-rm. 3,231,259

POWER OPERATOR FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F G. 3 O O ,9 m: "l 0 I IZOHS 116 I00 L as K I2G PRESSURE REG.

INVENTORS LOUIS G. BOBROWSKI JOHN F. MASLOW MW WM 3 AT TORNEYS 25, 1966 s. BOBROWSKI ETAL 3,231,259

POWER OPERATOR FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE S 5 RWW t mmw w B moA NBM s I. t GF w mm m 4 R LJW m T A sv i'wlzz Filed Feb. 20, 1962 POWER OPERATOR FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheetv 4 FIGS INVENTORS LOUIS G. BOBROWSKI JOH N F. MAS LOW ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofitice 3,231,259 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 3,231,259 POWER OPERATOR FOR DOORS AND THE LIKE Louis G. Bobrowski, Berlin, and John F. Maslow, Broad Brook, Conn., assignors to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 174,480 9 Claims. (Cl. 268-50) The present invention relates generally to power operators and is concerned, more particularly, with an improved power operator of economical design and structure having a variety of uses but particularly adapted for operating closure members such as doors, windows and the like.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a power actuator which utilizes pressurized fluid as a source of energy and which is adapted to impart movement to an associated device such as a dooror window or the like. Included in this aim is the provision of control means providing for automatic or semiautomatic functioning of the power actuator.

A more specific aim of the invention is to provide a power actuator of the type referred which is simple and economical to fabricate and install and also to operate and which is versatile in design so that the length and path of movement as well as the speed thereof may be readily adjusted to meet the requirement of the particular installation.

A further aim of the invention is to provide such a power actuator which will function equally effectively in a forward and a reverse direction, which will be smooth in operation without imparting jolts or jars to the associated mechanism and wherein acceleration and deceleration is accomplished in a controlled uniform manner.

Another aim is to provide a power actuator of the type referred to which is of compact size in relationship to its power output, which can be utilized as a prime mover for heavy objects such as sliding doors, and which is particularly effective and efficient for use with closure members such as doors and windows which are mounted for movement in a predetermined path such as along or in a supporting track, and wherein the extent of movement can be easily and readily controlled and at the same time, movement may be physically halted at any time without breakage or damage to the mechanism.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a power operator and control system embodying the present invention and installed in combination with a sliding door mounted for movement along an overhead track;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation view partly in section of the combination shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation view partly broken away and partly in section of a control unit;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the electrical and fluid pressure system employed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of the actuator of the power operator;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front view of the actuator together with a segment of the collapsible tube of the power operator;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the parts shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the control unit and a portion of the door showing an alternate arrangement for the actuation of the limit switch; and

'FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate embodiment of the electrical and fluid pressure system employed.

The power operator of the present invention is generally of the type employing a collapsible tube or conduit and an actuator mounted for collapsing a section of the tube and movable along the tube in response to fluid pressure applied thereto. While the operator will have various uses, the invention will be described for convenience but without limitation to the installation thereof in combination with a sliding door.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a sliding door 12 is shown mounted on a wall 10 by means of a track 14 and roller assemblies 16, the door being mounted for linear movement between a closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the door extends across the door opening 8 to an open position to the left thereof as viewed in FIG. 1. While the invention will be described in connection with the installation of a single sliding door, it will be apparent that by duplication of the mechanism, a pair of sliding doors may be installed in side-by-side relationship for simultaneous operation.

Mounted above the door opening 8 and laterally outwardly of and parallel to the upper edge of the door 12 and the track 14 is an elongated collapsible conduit v18 which performs the function of the driving element in the power operator of this invention. The collapsible conduit has an expanded form of substantially cylindrical shape, is constructed of a strong resilient impervious material as, for example, rubber with a plastic lining and a reinforcing layer of nylon fabric, and can be repeatedly flattened or collapsed to close its central fluid passage upon the application of lateral pressure thereon.

Postitioned on wall 10 are a pair of spaced control units indicated generally at 20 and 21 which are mounted on the wall 10 in spaced relationship by brackets 19. The control units 20, 21 include valves 22 and 23, respectively (FIGS. 3 and 4) that have annular couplings 24, 25 receiving the ends of the conduit 18 and upon which the conduit ends are suitably clamped. If desired, the valves 22, 23 may be remotely installed separate from the couplings 24 and 25. The screws 27 are adjusting screws for restriction in the couplings 24, 25 which may be used to vary the speed of operation, which is particularly desirable when a pair of doors are being operated in unison from a single pressure source.

In the preferred embodiment, the valves 22, 23 are electromagnetically operated and have a nonenergized position connecting the open end of the collapsible conduit with exhaust and an energized position connecting the open end of the conduit with a pressure fluid directed to the valves 22, 23 through the connecting pipes 26 and 28. These latter pipes 26 and 23 are connected by a pipe 29 preferably to a pneumatic pressure source with the air therefrom being cleaned by a strainer or filter 30 and having its pressure controlled by the regulator 34 to provide a working pressure indicated by the gauge 32. An on-oif valve 36 can be provided for disconnecting the pressure source as for disassembly or repair of the apparatus.

Fixed to the top of the door 12 and adjacent to the leading edge 38 of the door is an actuator 40 having a mounting bracket 42 secured to the door 12 and a support bracket 46 adjustably fixed to the mounting bracket. As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the mounting bracket 42 provides a platform 50 that extends laterally outwardly from the door panel 12 and which is rigidly supported by a pair of downwardly extending tapered side walls 52. The side walls 52 have extending inwardly therefrom a pair of mounting cars 54 which have openings 56 to receive bolts 57 for attaching the mounting bracket to the door 12. The support bracket 46 is of channel or U-shaped construction with a base portion 58 positioned upright from the platform and a pair of spaced parallel arm portions 60 extending above and below the conduit 18.

Mounted within the bracket 46 and extending between the parallel arm portions 60 are a pair of clamping elements 62 and 64 which preferably are in the form of freely rotatable elongated rolls or rollers as shown. The outer back-up roller 62 is rotatably mounted on the opposed channel arms 60 through suitable bearings which are preferably of the anti-friction type, whereas the inner clamping roller 64 is mounted for rotatable movement by similar bearing means upon a pair of opposed lever arms 66 and 68 that are mounted on the support bracket arms 60 for pivotal movement about a common axis extending parallel to the axes of rotation of the cylindrical rollers 62 and 64 by suitable means such as rivets 70. The collapsible conduit or hose 18 is disposed between the rollers 62 and 64 with the longitudinal axis of the hose being substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the rollers to enable the rollers to roll upon the conduit 18 as the closure panel 12 moves along the track. For urging the roller 64 toward the roller 62 and thereby clamp the conduit 18 and close off the passage therethrough, there are provided on the ends of the lever arms 66 and 68 remote from the pivot rivets 78 a pair of inwardly extending lugs 72 that are biased outwardly by a pair of compression springs 74 disposed between the lugs 72 and the base portion 53 of the support bracket. The compression springs 74 can be suitably retained upon the base portion 58 by piercing the base portion to provide flanges 59 (FIG. 6) extending within the compression springs, and the strength of the compression springs is such that there is sufficient pressure to collapse the conduit against the normal operating air pressure therein. Inasmuch as the roller 64 does not have a fixed position but can move relative to the roller 62 against the bias of springs 74, the rollers will automatically adjust for variations of hose thickness, thus providing increased service life for the hose and increasing the efiiciency of the mechanism. For guiding the conduit 18 centrally within the channel recess there are provided on opposite ends of the support bracket 46 a pair of guide members 76 which, as indicated, may be of generally U-shape having openings receiving the collapsible conduit. The ends of the guides 76 are threaded and are attached to the bracket base by lock nuts 80 (FIG. 5). The support bracket 46 is adjustably fixed to the platform 50 of the mounting bracket 42 by bolt fasteners 84 extending through openings in the lower channel arm 60 and through laterally extending slots 86 in the platform 50. Consequently, the rollers 62, 64 and guide members 76 can be readily adjusted laterally for proper alignment with the conduit 18 so that they will clamp the conduit without imposing unnecessary strain thereon which might otherwise result from misalignment. As a result of the structure just described, pressurized fluid applied to either end of the conduit 18 will cause the actuator 40 to move toward the opposite end thus actuating the door in an opening or closing direction. As will be apparent, neither the door 12 nor the actuator is suspended from the conduit 18 but on the contrary, the conduit 18 is partly supported and guided by the guide member 76 of the actuator 40 so as to maintain effective alignment with the rollers 62, 64.

Mounted on each of the control units 20, 21 is a shock absorber 90 that is adapted to decelerate the movement of the, door 12 as it approaches the limit of travel toward the control unit. Referring to FIG. 3, these shock absorbers 90 comprise a cylinder 92 having end closures 94 and 96 secured thereto as by welding. A piston 98 is mounted for movement within the cylinder and is connected to a piston rod 100 having a rubber button 102 threaded on the end thereof and adapted to engage the adjacent side wall 52 of the mounting bracket 42 on the door to provide a damping or retarding force upon the door. Exhaust orifices 104 and 106 communicate with the cylindrical chamber between the piston and the end closure 94 and have adjustment screws 108 and 110, respectively, for adjusting the amount of restriction of the air flow therethrough, and the piston 98 is provided with a resilient gasket 114 of rubber or the like which acts as a one-way check valve for allowing air flow only toward the cylindrical chamber between the piston 98 and the end closure 94. As the orifice 104 communicates with the cylindrical chamber at a point spaced from the closure 94, the orifice 106 alone provides the damping control for the piston as it approaches the end of its stroke. The orifice 106 is, therefore, adjusted by the adjustment screw so that the terminal damping of the piston is sufficiently high to prevent a shock engagement by the piston with the end closure 94. Upon movement of the door 12 away from the shock absorber 90, a coil spring 116 in engagement with the end closure 96 and a link 118 secured against a shoulder on the piston rod by a nut 120, acts to return the piston and the button 102 to their normal nonactuated position. A one-way check valve 122 is provided in the end closure 94 to admit air to the cylinder during return movement of the piston.

As shown in FIG. 4, the power operator may be energized by manually controlled switches 130, 132 which sc lectively connect the power lines L L to the solenoids 134, 136 of the valves 22 and 23, respectively. Holding relays 138, 140 are provided to maintain the circuit to the solenoid when the respective switches 138, 132 are energized. When switch is actuated, fluid under pressure is admitted by valve 22 to the right-hand end of conduit 18 while the left-hand end continues to be exhausted to atmosphere by valve 23, thus exerting pressure on the actuator 40 moving it to the left and opening the door. Conversely, when switch 132 is actuated, pressure is admitted to the opposite end of conduit 18 thus moving the actuator 40 and door 12 in a closing direction. The switches 130 and 132 may be hand-operated switches or may be other forms of conventional switches, such as mat switches, photoelectric cells, etc.

Limit switches 142, 144 are mounted, respectively, on the control units 20 and 21 and have normally closed contacts 143, 145, respectively, which are connected in series between the manually controlled switches 130, 132 and the solenoids 134, 136 of the valves 22, 23. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, the limit switches are located so that the switches will be opened by the inner end of a tubular rod 126 telescopically mounted on a guide rod 127 secured to the bracket 19 and connected at the outer end by lock nuts 128 to the link 118 on the piston rod 100 for movement therewith. Consequently, when the door 12 reaches the extremity of its movement in either direction and is decelerated by action of piston 98, the final movement will open the limit switch, thus terminating the supply of pressurized fluid to. the conduit 18 and venting the conduit 18 to atmosphere thus terminating the opening or closure movement of the door.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the limit switches may be operated by a separate rod 226 which is not attached to the piston rod 100 and thus may be actuated independently. A separate spring 225 is provided as a return spring for the rod 226. In this embodiment, an adjustable post 227 is secured to each of the side walls 52 of the mounting bracket in alignment with the switchoperating rods. The posts 227 are threaded and may be locked in adjusted position by the lock nuts 228,. At the limits of travel of the door 12, the posts 227 by engagement with the rods 226 will actuate the limit switches 142, 144. This arrangement is found to be advantageous to give more precise control of the operation of the limit switches 142, 144 without limitation to the degree of actuation of the shock-absorbing means.

In the arrangement shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, the door is opened upon actuation of switch 130 and upon reaching the full open position remains in such full open position until the switch 132 is actuated. The arrangement shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate arrangement by means of which automatic closing of the door is provided. Referring to FIG. 9, the switch 230 energizes the solenoid.,134 of valve 22 to position the valve 22 to admit fluid pressure to the right-hand end of the conduit and initiate opening movement of the door. At the same time the relay R is energized through the normally closed contacts 145 of limit switch 144. Energizing of relay .R causes closing of the normally open contacts R by means of which'the solenoid 134 is maintained energized even though the starting switch 230 is permitted to open. The solenoid 136 of valve 23 which is connected to the power lines throughthe normally closed contacts 143 of'limit switch 142 and normally closed contacts R of relay R'remains deenergized at the start because the dOOr in closed position opens the contacts of limit switch 142 and subsequently remains deenergized because of the opening of the contacts R of the relay R. Upon completion of opening movement of the door, however, the door actuates the limit switch to open the contacts 145 thereof which deenergizes the relay R permitting the normally closed contacts R to close and energize the solenoid 136 of valve 23 and permitting normally open contacts R to open and deenergizing the solenoid 134 of valve 22. This condition thereupon causes fluid under pressure to enter the left-hand end of the conduit and re turn the door to original closed position. Upon final return movement the limit switch 142 is actuated to open the contacts 143 and return the system to original condition completing the cycle. If desired, time delay means may be included in the circuit in a conventional manner to delay return movement of the door as desired.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the power operator and control system of the present invention is simple and economical to install and operate with a minimum of skill and instruction and yet is versatile in design to meet the requirements of various types of installations. The power operator is particularly adapted for use with doors, windows and the like which are mounted for travel along a predetermined path, such as by means of a track and wherein the actuator may be carried by the device to be actuated. Within reasonable limits, the flexible conduit may be cut to any desired length to provide the necessary traverse of the door or other device and the conduit may be readily arranged in a linear or curvilinear manner to conform to or follow the path of movement of the door or the like. The adjustments and mounting of the control unit to provide for smooth deceleration and halting of movement of the door in either direction are also simple and convenient. In operation, uniform and reasonably rapid movement can be imparted to the closure member and the power applied may be readily adjusted to meet the requirements of the particular installation. It is inherent in the operation of the mechanism that power will be applied to the closure member without jolts and jars and in the event of physical blockage, the operator can be stalled without breakage or damage. The mechanism is rugged in construction for trouble-free operation and may be used over long periods of time without undue wear and without requiring repair or replacement.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims,

We claim:

1. A power operator for use with a movable member mounted on a track secured to a support comprising an elongated collapsible conduit freely suspended from said support at the opposite ends thereof with the intermediate portion of said conduit being laterally movable relative to said track, valve means connected to the ends of the conduit for selectively connecting one end of the conduit to a fluid pressure source and the other end of the conduit to exhaust, and an actuator movable along the collapsible conduit comprising a support bracket mountable on the movable member, clamping means on the bracket posi-' tioned on opposite sides of the collapsible conduit and mountedtor relative movement toward and away from each other, and means urging the clamping means into clamping engagement with the conduit to collapse the conduit, said actuator being movable along the conduit in response to the pressure differential in the conduit on opposite sides of said clamping means.

2. A power operator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clamping means includes a roller extending transversely of the conduit and mounted on the bracket for movement laterally toward and away from the conduit, and a spring urging the roller into engagement with the conduit.

3. A power operator for use with a movable member mounted on a track secured to a support comprising an elongated collapsible conduit freely suspended from said support at the opposite ends thereof with the intermediate portion of said conduit being laterally movable relative to said track, valve means connected to the ends of the conduit for selectively connecting one end of the conduit to a fluid pressure source and the other end of the conduit to exhaust, and an actuator movable along the collapsible conduit comprising a support bracket fixedly mountable on the movable member, a pair of rollers positioned on opposite sides of the collapsible conduit for engagement therewith, means mounting the rollers on the support bracket for rotation about parallel axes and for movement relatively toward and away from each other, biasing means urging the rollers relatively toward each other for applying a clamping pressure to collapse the conduit, and adjustable restriction means for varying the rate of admission and the rate of discharge of fluid to and from said conduit to control the speed of movement of the actuator.

4. A power operator for use with a movable member mounted on a track secured to a support comprising an elongated collapsible conduit adapted for free suspension from the support with the intermediate portion thereof laterally movable relative to the track, valve means connected to the ends of the conduit for selectively connecting one end of the conduit to a fluid pressure source and connecting the other end of the conduit to exhaust, and an actuator fixedly mountable on the movable member and being movable along the conduit, said actuator including a generally U-shaped bracket having a pair of spaced leg portions receiving the conduit therebetween, a first roller extending between the leg portions and rotatably mounted on the bracket, a lever arm pivotally mounted on the bracket for movement toward and away from the axis of the first roller, a second roller rotatably mounted on the lever arm about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the first roller, and spring means urging the second roller toward the first roller, said conduit being engaged by the first and second rollers.

5. The power operator of claim 4 wherein the spring means comprises a compression spring between the bracket and the lever arm, said spring engaging the lever arm remote from the pivotal mounting thereof.

6. A power operator for a sliding door or the like mounted on a track secured to a wall comprising an elongated collapsible conduit secured to said wall and being vertically and laterally movable relative to the track, valve means connected to opposite ends of the conduit for selec tively connecting one of the ends of the conduit to a fluid pressure source and the other end of the conduit to exhaust, control means for operating said valve means, and an actuator movable along the conduit responsive to the differential in fluid pressure in the conduit on opposite sides thereof, said actuator including a support bracket fixedly mountable on the sliding door or the like, a pair of rollers engaging opposite sides of the collapsible conduit, means mounting the rollers on the support bracket for rotatable movement about, parallel axes and for relative movement toward and away from each other, spring means ur ing the rollers relatively toward each other for applying a clamping pressure collapsing the conduit, and guide members mounted on the support bracket on opposite sides of said rollers for aligning the conduit with the rollers.

7. In combination, a Wall having a doorway therein, a closure member mounted on a track fixed to said wall for sliding movement between opened and closed positions, and a power operator for the closure member com prising an elongated collapsible conduit freely suspended from said wall at the opposite ends thereof with the intermediate portion of said conduit being laterally and vertically movable relative to said track, said conduit extending parallel to said track, valve means connected to the ends of the conduit for selectively connecting one end of the conduit to a fluid pressure source and the other end of the conduit to exhaust, adjustable orifice means for varying the rate of admission and the rate of discharge of fluid to and from the ends of the conduit, an actuator movable along the collapsible conduit, said actuator comprising a support bracket fixed to the closure member and having a pair of rollers engaging opposite sides of the collapsible conduit, and spring means biasing the rollers toward each other for applying a clamping force to collapse the conduit.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7 wherein means are provided for adjusting the support bracket transversely of the elongated conduit.

9. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein a pair of guide means are provided for maintaining the collapsible hose aligned with the center of the rollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,201 8/ 1932 Wiegner. 2,380,334 7/1945 Schoelkoph 268-50 2,578,894 12/1951 Maurer 268-50 2,629,333 2/ 1953 Olden 91-57 X 3,014,459 12/1961 Gustairs 92-90 X 3,045,611 7/1962 Murray 92-90 X FOREIGN PATENTS 740,453 11/1955 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner. 

7. IN COMBINATION, A WALL HAVING A DOORWAY THEREIN, A CLOSURE MEMBER MOUNTED ON A TRACK FIXED TO SAID WALL FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT BETWEEN OPENED AND CLOSED POSITIONS, AND A POWER OPERATOR FOR THE CLOSURE MEMBER COMPRISNG AN ELONGATED COLLAPSIBLE CONDUIT FREELY SUSPENDED FROM SAID WALL AT THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF WITH THE INTERMEDITE PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT BEING LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID TRACK, SAID CONDUIT EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID TRACK, VALVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF THE CONDUIT FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING ONE END OF THE CONDUIT TO A FLUID PRESSURE SOURCE AND THE OTHER END OF THE CONDUIT TO EXHAUST, ADJUSTABLE ORIFICE MEANS FOR VARYING THE RATE OF ADMISSIION AND THE RATE OF DISCHARGE OF FLUID TO AND FROM THE ENDS OF THE CONDUIT, AN ACTUATOR MOVABLE ALONG THE COLLAPSIBLE CONDUIT, SAID ACTUATOR COMPRISING A SUPPORT BRACKET FIXED TO THE CLOSURE MEMBER AND HAVING A PAIR OF ROLLERS ENGAGING OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE COLLAPSIBLE CONDUIT, AND SPRING MEANS BIASING THE ROLLERS TOWARD EACH OTHER FOR APPLYING A CLAMPING FORCE TO COLLAPSE THE CONDUIT. 